Photo courtesy of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
January 15, 2025 – The Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) stands in solidarity with the communities in California impacted by the devastating wildfires. Our hearts go out to all the people affected and displaced, including the children, families, and caregivers who are navigating this unimaginable loss and disruption.
Unfortunately, wildfires like those burning in California are becoming all too common and are projected to increase in frequency. At their worst, wildfires are deadly, and even at their mildest, they are highly disruptive. Air pollution released from wildfires has been found to be ten times more harmful to respiratory health and young children are particularly at risk given that they breathe twice as fast as adults, their respiratory and immune systems are not fully developed, and they are completely reliant on caregivers. These emergencies also disrupt access to essential services such as school, childcare, healthcare, and access to power and clean water, further compounding their impact. These realities underscore the urgent need to prioritize prevention measures and the protection of young children, given their heightened vulnerability.
Specifically, we urge resources be mobilized to provide access to:
- Psychosocial services that specifically support the five components of nurturing care—good health, adequate nutrition, opportunities for learning, safety, and security, and responsive care—as a core component of emergency response.
- Evidence-based parenting interventions to parents and caregivers that consider the impact on recipients’ mental health.
- Childcare and early education services to support young children, their parents and caregivers who have been displaced.
Rebuilding communities will take time, leaving many families and children displaced for extended periods. The physical and psycho-social effects of such disasters can have lifelong impacts, increasing the risk of negative outcomes such as physical illness, mental health challenges, and poverty. In addition, we know that parenting during extreme circumstances becomes even more difficult, as stress, trauma, injury, and profound losses take a toll on caregivers’ ability to provide stability and support. To mitigate these impacts, immediate and long-term support services for children, parents, and caregivers must be prioritized. Governments and service providers must work together to ensure families have access to the resources they need to recover and rebuild their lives.
As a global network dedicated to advancing early childhood development, we continue to advocate for systems that build resilience and prioritize the needs of children in emergencies and measures to prevent these recurring wildfires. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to responders, donors, and all key stakeholders whose efforts are crucial in supporting emergency responses and safeguarding the well-being of children and their communities.
Early childhood partners have shared the following resources to support families and service providers affected by the fires:
- The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University’s new brief, Growing Up in a Warming World: How Wildfire Smoke Affects Early Childhood Development.
- Childcare Aware of America resources on helping children cope with disasters, wildfires, and air quality
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Parent Guidelines for Helping Children Impacted by Wildfires (available in English and Spanish).
- Sesame Workshop emergency resources.
- Save the Children Psychosocial Support and Education in Emergencies.